A Contagious Smile Podcast
"A Contagious Smile" is a transformative platform embracing special needs families and domestic violence survivors. We illuminate the journeys of extraordinary individuals who've triumphed over adversity and aspire to ignite your own inner light. Through candid stories, we showcase how they conquered challenges and emerged stronger. Our podcast features insightful interviews with experts, offering resources that empower and uplift. Let us guide you in rediscovering your inner light – because every smile narrates a tale of resilience. It's time to share your story and rekindle your spirit.
A Contagious Smile Podcast
Teen Talk, Laughter and Laurels: Faith and Abbies’s Summer Adventures, Academic Triumphs, and Family Insights
Ever wondered how a published teen author and a national honor society inductee spend their summer? Buckle up for a laugh-filled journey as we welcome Faith and our special guest, Abacus, who have some unbelievable stories to share. From Faith celebrating her fifth book to Abacus's prestigious academic honor, this episode is packed with achievements and hilarity. Listen to their tales of baby powder pranks, Oreo Blizzard escapades, and an unforgettable wedding where they both shone brightly. Plus, join them on spontaneous bookstore runs and a fun nail salon visit. And let's not forget the comic relief from Michael's outrageous antics, including bag-tossing out windows and epic water-spraying contests. This episode is a delightful blend of laughter, success, and memorable summer moments.
Switching gears, we dive into a unique perspective on education with our second chapter, exploring what it's like to have your mom as a teacher at your school. Faith and Abacus discuss the potential for favoritism, the challenges of higher expectations, and the invaluable lessons learned from "Take Your Child to Work Day." They reminisce about their favorite subjects, particularly English and writing, and share cherished memories from their art classes. The conversation wraps up on a heartfelt note as they reflect on the joy of family vacations and the importance of quality time together. Tune in for an episode that combines humor, heart, and a fresh look at family and education!
Hey everyone and welcome to another episode of Teen Talk. We have Faith with us, hi everyone, and we have a special guest. We call her Abacus. I only I call her Abacus. Well, that's what I'm saying. Hi, how are you? Yeah, I bet. So I want to start out, before I let these two lose, congratulating both of them. Our beautiful Faith has just published her fifth book, even though she just got out of the hospital. I'm so unbelievably proud of her. She's amazing. And our sweet guest just got recognized and put into the national honor society, which we all know is incredibly challenging and hard to do and I'm so proud of you and I want to congratulate you on doing that as well.
Speaker 1:You're welcome. So, summer 2024, how's your summer started? Without any medical jargon, because we all know it's been crappy for you. Faith. What is the best part so far this summer for y'all being here?
Speaker 2:oh, tell us about your trip um it was, um it was, it was private because both the happiness and joy while we were here hey what about you.
Speaker 1:A lot of happiness and happiness too. I'm glad I'm watching you. Yeah, I have to ask how's Michael been? Okay, he progressed. What'd you guys?
Speaker 2:pick up though.
Speaker 1:Yeah, why, oh, we don't play? Oh oh my, I left my bag at a company and we're in a company.
Speaker 2:I left my bag off the window. He what Speak up, he what. He threw my bags off the window.
Speaker 1:Didn't he have a marshmallow in his pillow Maybe? Details, details, details. Yeah, and what else? Y'all did a lot of what do you mean? Baby powder all over. What happened? Everybody always knows about the pranks. They always want to know because they're all such prankster and jokesters they love how, why I did the baby cover.
Speaker 2:But um uh, I I pulled baby cover like on his head, on his shirt, his pants, his feet on his side of the bed all on the left side yeah, yeah, all the left side of him and didn't you also top it off at one point with Oreo Blizzard on his head? Oh yeah, I took some of my Blizzard and glitter out of his head and then he wiped my narrow sauce on my arm.
Speaker 1:I I have to ask how was the wedding?
Speaker 2:a wedding. I don't think it was a normal to ask how was the wedding A wedding? I?
Speaker 1:don't think it was a normal wedding.
Speaker 2:It was my first wedding I've been to.
Speaker 1:I had a moment. Yeah, I have to say, both of you looked absolutely stunning, absolutely beautiful, gorgeous. You weren't supposed to look better than the bride, it's just kind of a common rule, but both of you looked absolutely stunning, absolutely beautiful, gorgeous. You weren't supposed to look better than the bride, it's just kind of a common rule, but both of you did like on a one to ten. Y'all were a million and the bride was like one. But thanks, thank you, but y'all just were absolutely stunning there was quite a few surprises in the wedding.
Speaker 1:Anyone want to talk about that? You're not guests she's family. She's not guests oh, you are the guest of the podcast, so you do technically go first what's her thing, but she invited you. Yes, okay, did you put chocolate cake all over my glass and did y'all have a good? Did you put chocolate?
Speaker 2:cake all over my glass we're both square.
Speaker 1:That was hilarious, and did y'all have a good dinner, wedding dinner. You're so quiet, you must be dumb.
Speaker 2:Well, let's figure it out. Oh, that's better.
Speaker 1:So you had like lobster and shrimp and yeah, yeah, you had like lobster and shrimp and oh yeah, I missed it how was dinner?
Speaker 2:your pop-up he's awesome, I know, but you know there's still time oh, and we didn't choose Michael, I know, but you know there's still time. Oh and cool.
Speaker 1:And you guys did some amazing bookstore shopping. We found some really cute like mom and pop bookstores that were awesome.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 1:The Crazy Book Lady.
Speaker 2:And then there was the Bookworm.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, oh, those were really cool, I really liked those.
Speaker 2:Now the crazy book lady.
Speaker 1:Oh, and then there was a bookworm, oh yeah and they talked me in to getting my nails done, which was not on the agenda. No, no, I wanted them to have some time and so I said I'll sit in the bar, you guys, get your nails done and I'll come in when y'all are close to being finished. And I kept getting a message are you coming?
Speaker 2:in. Are you coming in?
Speaker 1:and I was like what? And so I go in thinking they're close to being finished and majority rules I lost. I ended up getting my nails done it is beyond a rare thing for me to do. Yeah, I don't. Yeah, that's not true. Yeah, okay, yes, yes.
Speaker 2:What have you got Michael doing that? He's not up here, he's baking a cappuccino.
Speaker 1:Oh, when he brings it in, you can start roasting him. That would be great.
Speaker 2:He has to make himself one.
Speaker 1:now, he's something all right, he's a little joke. He's a jokester, yeah, but he's also a real, quite the pain. Especially if you try to wake him. Oh yeah, oh, my god, he's a bear. Ew, didn't y'all get into like a water, like spraying contest at one point too.
Speaker 2:I took the water bottle off the dresser and I threw it on and I, and then he just looked at me and grabbed it and squeezed it and got it all over his face, yeah.
Speaker 1:Y'all did some other pranks. I'm trying to think what else y'all did to him.
Speaker 2:Most of them were included in marshmallows, which I'm still seeing. What about the vehicle? Oh, I wore four bags of marshmallows, which I'm still about the vehicle oh, I wore four bags of marshmallows in the front seat of a truck and video his reaction he was not pleased and then. I took it and just threw it out and he was still, but it felt great it was so awesome.
Speaker 1:That's like me. Yeah, you two are like cookie cutter of each other. It's unreal, I swear if you're not that person, you'll be my best friend.
Speaker 2:Y'all are like twins.
Speaker 1:Seriously, ooh, here comes Michael, who can say howdy y'all because we're doing a teen talk. Say howdy y'all, we're talking about their trip. Uh, this vacation, that abacus was on and what you thought her best part of this trip was. The best part is that she made my daughter happy.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry. Your daughter, yes, my daughter.
Speaker 1:I don't think so.
Speaker 2:It's my daughter, she's my daughter when she's good. No, she's my daughter, all the time because she's good.
Speaker 1:She's yours when she's not being so good. Whose daughter are you? That's her. On what I'm good on her.
Speaker 2:I'm that and I'm good, I'm Matt and I'm me.
Speaker 1:Girls, enjoy your cappuccino.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Thanks Butler Michael. Yeah, thanks, sir Butler. Thanks Burrito.
Speaker 1:Did you just say thanks, Burrito.
Speaker 2:Congratulations oh, apparently you're dead. Now have fun with that.
Speaker 1:Congratulations oh, apparently you're dead now oh wow, we all actually threw some burritos. You had some burrito throwing oh yeah, so what is the like goals for the rest of the summer and sleep. You don't get to sleep like you do here I don't no, no, no matter what time I stay up.
Speaker 2:I always get up at like eight or nine, yeah, but you guys stayed up like to the sunrise a couple nights so what's it like being addicted to sprite and then?
Speaker 1:I slept till noon I slept till 1.
Speaker 2:But I mostly slept till like 11 or noon First of May.
Speaker 1:So what's it like being addicted to Sprite? I'm addicted, yes, you are no. Yes, you are Holy.
Speaker 2:Four, six hours of Sprite a day, that's not that good.
Speaker 1:Yes, you are you got you drink more sprite like I've never seen somebody drink. No, we already know the statistics, but we don't remember. Your mom could listen to this she's nervous, so yeah.
Speaker 2:So so could you cut sprite cold turkey, yeah no way excellent, no, no yes, you cut soda completely yeah, no, because I can drink milk and apple juice every day no, but it's not soda, nope I don't drink lemonade.
Speaker 1:Simple as that could you go just water no never I hate water, I barely ever drink water.
Speaker 2:I'm not kidding, I barely ever drink water. I'm not kidding, I rarely ever drink water.
Speaker 1:And if you looked at her, you wouldn't know that, because she's absolutely stunning. Her skin is beautiful, her hair is beautiful, she is beautiful. You're welcome.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't drink water to take, like your life.
Speaker 1:Well, you did drink it once. While we're here, but we won't talk about that.
Speaker 2:that was no yeah uh, but no, I don't even take, I don't use water to take my meds. That's why I opened so many cans of sprite, because I'm taking it. Um, I opened a new one right.
Speaker 1:so you're giving your notice of a lot of right thinking. So tell us some good books for summer reading, because both of y'all are like bookworms. My life that's a good start. What do y'all think? What's a good starting book?
Speaker 2:for the summer. Well, I'm currently reading Fairy Tale by Santa King Really freaking good. Yeah, I'm currently reading Hollywood and the Left. Well, it depends on what you like to read. If you like to read like a fantasy book.
Speaker 1:You just finished, shanti's.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And you know what? We have Shanti coming with us next week. I'm so excited.
Speaker 2:I mean, I'm hoping.
Speaker 1:I'm hoping you will.
Speaker 2:I should be able to.
Speaker 1:I'm hoping so. She's amazing. We've been friends with her for years and she is just so sweet. We were texting last night. She was texting me until like 10, which is 7 her time because she's out on the West Coast but we were texting and she's just really super down-to-earth and sweet and I I love the relationship that you have built based with her. She's very, very nice. I mean, she's yeah, she's awesome. We're so looking forward to having her back. So she used to be on with us more often, but then that was during like holiday breaks and summers. But hopefully she'll come on more this summer with us and you watched your first.
Speaker 1:I finished my coffee and you watched your first scary movie last night. How did that go?
Speaker 2:um well, the first movie was like a crack film. Honestly it was define crack film.
Speaker 1:What movie was it? It had Jenna Ortega in it.
Speaker 2:It was the babysitter killer queen which honestly doesn't really fit the whole thing, but um, it was morally stupid. Honestly, it was an awful first horror movie. Thank you, Victoria, for that.
Speaker 1:So I remember, I felt, well, I don't know if I'm going to tell the next one Not bad. Yeah, and then?
Speaker 2:we watched Nightmare on Elm Street, which my mom always said was a good movie. That one was a lot better. It wasn't like scary or anything, but it was funny.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I got a massive headache during bed over because I drank pride, which is disgusting. Never drinking that again.
Speaker 1:So we have our book starting list to go on. What else are you guys thinking? What do y'all think about the fact that it's Pride Month? Why are we clapping?
Speaker 2:I don't know.
Speaker 1:Is it challenging being in school with kids trying to figure out who they?
Speaker 2:are and their identities.
Speaker 1:There always seems to be some new, different identity coming out all the time, but I'm trying to to stay um on top of all of these and I I really in high school, um, no one really cares what you are like.
Speaker 2:I don't really see bullying of that, but um, I definitely see people making like jokes about being in the lgbtq and stuff. Not, maybe they are, maybe they are, but like there's tons of jokes about uh being gay and stuff like that is definitely a big one.
Speaker 2:I just ignore them. Honestly. If they don't like talk to me or anything about that, then I don't do anything about it, because I don't know what people can do and you can't really get in trouble for saying that. In my school, right, is it hard to like do people come up and ask you your pronouns and you can't really get in trouble for saying that in high school Right.
Speaker 1:Is it hard to like? Do people come up and ask you your pronouns?
Speaker 2:No, no, no one. That's definitely not a big thing. There's, on the first day of school, you get asked what you prefer to go by, like this was even before, like LGBTQ was like a big thing and it's definitely being argued over or whatever, but it was asked what you prefer to go by and stuff. So if, let's say, your name was, Alexander but you went by Alexis because you felt more feminine. You could say that and you would be called that.
Speaker 2:I know some teachers are kind about it, but my mom's a teacher. She's super like. I'll call you whatever you want to be called, but there might be some teachers that kind of ignore it honestly um, I don't really know.
Speaker 1:I don't see it. How is it having your mom as a teacher in your school?
Speaker 2:awesome because then I get to um walk out of class and go sit in her room putting it on um. Um, not really. I mean, she's always been a teacher, like growing up. I tell her she's been a teacher, so yeah, but you were her student, right. I wasn't.
Speaker 2:It was honestly hilarious being in her class, because the almost the entire year it was me and her going back and forth and the class definitely found it amusing but um they weren't worried, you'd get favoritism no, because mom said that if I was going to be in the class she would push me harder and stuff, so she would expect more from me than a lot of studying thank you.
Speaker 1:I have two very bright, brilliant girls with me today.
Speaker 2:They're amazing. But yeah, it wasn't. It's never been super duper weird. I think it's never been super duper weird. I've been when before. Oh crap, the old school she used to teach at where we used to live. They had a thing called Take your Child to Work Day. It was in May, towards the end of the school year, so my mom would take me and my older sister to school. So we I've been in her classroom teaching and stuff. Yeah, I've helped her teach the class, kind of. So, what's your?
Speaker 1:favorite subjects.
Speaker 2:English, Because I also want to major in English and life and art. Yeah, I've never had art. Honestly. I had art, like I don't know, in 8th grade. I think it was like 8th grade. I had it twice and I got a B in both of those because I didn't try. I did kind of start out. I know it's like a big thing for your face, but art's never been my specialty.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:I do more of writing. Writing and connecting things and all that. Like I said, the English part.
Speaker 1:So Favorite part of vacation here.
Speaker 2:Y'all or the chicken.
Speaker 1:We rank. That's nice, that's nice.
Speaker 2:He told me that I can't say it. It's awesome.
Speaker 1:What's your favorite thing about this one? What's your favorite thing about this one? What's your favorite thing about this one? Uh, all, blue and red. What's your favorite thing about this one?
Speaker 2:Her smile in the lab. It's awesome, especially since I'm one of the only ones that gets to bring it up.
Speaker 1:Why don't you describe?
Speaker 2:it.
Speaker 1:Bad luck, Brooklyn no.
Speaker 2:I'm not doing that again. Don't keep me up at night doing that Help. And there's a random person, oh man, doing that again. You keep me up at night doing that and there's a random person.
Speaker 1:Oh man, Both of them, both of them, and I'm going to talk about both of them because they were love.
Speaker 2:Yeah, actually see, it's funny enough my seventh grade year. I was acquaintances kind of with these two people and it was we had a class together and we knew each other. So we kind of became more friendly and stuff. And they called me bookworm. And as my lovely school year goes on and I continue going to the grades, um, I get called bookworm that's like what people know me as also, because that's all you see. All you see is a book or three or five well, let me ask you for the people.
Speaker 1:There's so many people who know faith and, like people, come out of the woodwork wanting to have her speak with them, and I know why she's amazing. What do you say to the people out there about who she really is? I don't know.
Speaker 2:I really can't describe her without making it seem like I don't know, I think she's pretty amazing. Every word doesn't seem to fit her.
Speaker 1:It just makes it seem smaller than it is. Aww, what about the people who have taken advantage of her? They can go fall down a hole you're allowed to say what you want on here, by the way I don't know, I don't know like. No, I still can't wrap my head around people taking advantage of her, because she's her, she's stuff like it's their loss, not hers, it's their loss yeah absolutely their loss um also.
Speaker 2:She can't get rid of me, so sex to sex.
Speaker 1:I won gonna. Let you all wrap that stupid song very quickly that you've been torturing me, man. No, not that one. Rap that stupid song very quickly that you've been torturing me with. No, not that one. Yeah, go Go there, it did it to you. Well, this is a short episode of teen talk today because I had to like bribe your guest. She didn't want to be on, and now family yeah, see different.
Speaker 2:I don't like other people like what's the person I don't know, the mouse I don't know.
Speaker 1:I think I can do a few oh, I can name so many. I don't think I want to name names, yeah you got anything to finish off with, since this is a really short fun, unscripted. I want more coffee.
Speaker 2:I'm all your butler butler Michael, can I have more coffee please? I'm all your butler. Butler Michael, can I have a coffee Please? Okay, I'll make my coffee. I'm so glad I didn't block your end on an upcoming date.
Speaker 1:If you want to be on here I'm here, If you're not here, what's the point of having a whole different person?
Speaker 2:I tried to move here. My mom said no.
Speaker 1:Well, we'll wait until you're done in school. We'll get you In a heartbeat. We'd take her Right. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:I know your favorite color. I know you told me about it. I can't believe it's black. What's black I have to put on my black, isn't it?
Speaker 1:yeah.
Speaker 2:I also want everything you ever wear into your room.
Speaker 1:So oh, now it's her room oh yeah, it's our room.
Speaker 2:I'm gonna take a ball and just paint it bright neon yellow, because purple and yellow actually go really good, and then I hit a little bit off under that I'll be fine, I'll be fine. No, this is gold, yellow. What about something like this? Ew, that's green, I'll cover my face.
Speaker 1:I'm trying, I'll cover like that color, kind of, yeah, a darker, like a golden kind of yellow, paint a wall with that and it'll be mine.
Speaker 2:I don't have that I want and I'm not fun. No, I don't. I hate bright colors, I know. That's why most of my walls are like a gray tan color, and then I have one wall that's teal. Yeah, mm-hmm, I do If I end up with black.
Speaker 1:I have to mix it with black.
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I saw bright neon teal, pink boot things and I looked at them and I was like yeah, I was like why it didn't even?
Speaker 1:match the outfit. The girl was wearing.
Speaker 2:Oh my god, no, no, nope, yours. Catch me in college when doing off hot minute.
Speaker 1:Then no, nope, yours catch me in where it's like I don't know. Oh wait, I have, we're gonna eat your nose repairs. It was so cute, she had the cutest little stud in there.
Speaker 2:So I feel like I have to cut this one out and close it up I don't my hair, my ear piercing. I'm just like, why so? I gotta go get my third hole repaired and then I get my fourth ones, and then I might get a cartilage like her I'm debating I wanted to do a couple years ago.
Speaker 1:I had one done right here and I loved it, and then, of course, like always, like two weeks later, I found out I had a surgeon take it out. I was so angry, yeah, I might be.
Speaker 2:I honestly don't know, but I want to at least get my fourth piercing.
Speaker 1:I don't know if I can do fifth ones, because I honestly, I love like, just like studs in my ears yeah I'm not big on the whole.
Speaker 2:Oh my god, your ear's gonna be covered every single right.
Speaker 1:I have one up here too, and I want to get more, but I have to stay off the table a lot to be able to do that.
Speaker 2:I know for sure I'm never getting any facial piercings or like belly button or anything like that.
Speaker 1:I'm not a huge fan of those.
Speaker 2:They look good on some people.
Speaker 1:But then you have like have them all over their face and you're just like why I put it on my nose and I'm trying to check if I got it right.
Speaker 2:I got it on my lips. I feel the hole what?
Speaker 1:I'm debating on which one looks better. I think the nose is a good place to start, and that's a good place. We're good there. For a little while I thought we were getting tattooed I told her when she turned 18 I'd go get one with her much see I want um because I want to go into like teaching.
Speaker 2:So, um, I want to get a matching tattoo with my mom of like-.
Speaker 1:Will she do one with you?
Speaker 2:Well, she currently has one um, like when she started teaching she only has one. No, she has plenty of tattoos I'm talking about she has one on her wrist.
Speaker 1:That's like when she started teaching and stuff.
Speaker 2:So uh when I start, I want to get the same thing, okay, so so like kind of imagine stuff but I like it that that'll be like after I do college, or that I think about my first like movie, something we do with books and I have the perfect one for you.
Speaker 1:I have to show it to you. I've got one for you, all right, you want to take us out? I brought us in. It's your show. That one for you? Alright, you want to take us out? I brought us in. It's your show.
Speaker 2:Bye, bye, mr Sir Butler Michael.
Speaker 1:Michael Say thanks for listening to another episode of. You know we're still in there.
Speaker 2:Oh, I know I don't think michael's gonna answer. Thanks for listening to another episode.
Speaker 1:We are so glad that she was our guest today and hope she will join us more and more frequently as the summer continues.
Speaker 2:The first day and I asked you to do it the first day and the more and more frequently as the summer continues.
Speaker 1:I hope she'll join us like the first day, and I asked you to do it the first day and the second and the third and the fourth and the fifth and the sixth and the seventh and the eighth and the ninth and the tenth. Yeah, I think I did.
Speaker 2:Oh my.
Speaker 1:God.
Speaker 2:I always miss you. I know, oh my God, do you have any?
Speaker 1:things I've missed Like nothing nothing.
Speaker 2:I went to one of the first times. Yeah, you did ask me the first day. When I got here I was like I went and got you a different.
Speaker 2:Okay, I was like I don't really know and you're like no no, yeah, I was like no the entire time and then it was. You get to go to mexican if you do the podcast. I really want a mexican who's going to do the podcast and I also don't know what to do. So I got no mexican and you need to yell at your butler yeah, thank you guys, we'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1:Say bye.
